Crittenton Centers holds healthy-eating garden party for children

Whoever thought that a garden party could have such a positive impact on a child's life?

The Crittenton Centers hosted its first garden party of the season from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 442 W. John Gwynn Jr. Ave.

KYLE DILLER

Whoever thought that a garden party could have such a positive impact on a child's life?

The Crittenton Centers hosted its first garden party of the season from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 442 W. John Gwynn Jr. Ave. The event promoted the importance of healthy eating for children in the center's community garden.

The community garden has played a big role in getting children at the center excited about vegetables and eating healthy from an early age.

"When they come out and plant the broccoli plants, I say, 'Who likes broccoli?' and they all say 'I do! I do!'" said Janet Hart of Kickapoo, a Peoria County Master Gardener with the University of Illinois Extension Office, who works on the community garden. "It's a lot of fun to see them excited about vegetables."

This is the third year of the community garden, which was created using a grant from the Heart of Illinois United Way Youth Committee.

While the children are being educated in the garden, it is also a chance to educate parents as well.

"One of the things that we're really focused on at Crittenton is more engagement of our parents in the developmental education of their children," said Executive Director Cindy Fischer of Peoria. "The parents that are coming tonight are coming to have a fun meal, to be outside and enjoy the garden, to talk a little bit about nutrition and the importance it plays in their child's health."

For 119 years, the Crittenton Centers has helped nurture children and emphasize the importance of family. It offers a crisis nursery, a child development center and family services.

The garden party serves as part of that mission by not only teaching children about healthy eating, but also bringing families together to enjoy the party.